Harris Primary Academy Purley Way is a mainstream primary school in Croydon for children aged 4 to 11. In January 2026, 54 of its 577 pupils (9.4%) were getting SEN support and 16 (2.8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–11
- 577 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Croydon.
9.4% get SEN support
54 of 577 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
2.8% have an EHC plan
16 of 577 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication24
- Autism10
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream primary school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 4 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 577 (places for 630)
- Headteacher
- Mr Oscar Sanders (Head of Academy)
- Part of
- Harris Federation
- Free school meals
- 35.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Croydon
- School reference (URN)
- 140395
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Croydon council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Outstanding, July 2019; standards maintained (April 2025)
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in July 2019. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Early yearsOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, April 2025).
Contact and getting there
47 Propeller Crescent, Croydon, CR0 4FE
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Carew Academy Special school · Ages 5–18 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.2 miles
- Aerodrome Primary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted report card (2025) 0.4 miles
- The Write Time Independent · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
- Foresters Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 0.9 miles
Other mainstream schools
- High View Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 12.3%, EHC plans 3.4% 0.5 miles
- The Minster Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 13.8%, EHC plans 3.2% 0.6 miles
- The Minster Nursery and Infants Church of England Academy Primary · Ages 2–7 · SEN support 10.9%, EHC plans 2.4% 0.6 miles
Questions about Harris Primary Academy Purley Way
How many pupils at Harris Primary Academy Purley Way have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 54 of the 577 pupils (9.4%) were getting SEN support and 16 (2.8%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Harris Primary Academy Purley Way?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (24 pupils) and autism (10 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Harris Primary Academy Purley Way?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Harris Primary Academy Purley Way?
Through Croydon council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Harris Primary Academy Purley Way?
You can ask for Harris Primary Academy Purley Way to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Harris Primary Academy Purley Way have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Aerodrome Primary Academy, about 0.4 miles away.
Where is Harris Primary Academy Purley Way?
47 Propeller Crescent, Croydon, CR0 4FE, in Croydon.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.